North Jetty (Hikkaduwa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the table for the next couple of weeks.

First off, I gotta be straight with you – the start of this outlook is a bit of a heartbreaker. We're looking at a solid run of poor surf conditions right through the end of July. The wind is mostly a cross-onshore breeze from the west, which is just chopping things up. The swell is on the small side, mostly around 2ft to 3ft, and even when it bumps up a little, the wind is just ruining the party. That water is sitting at a warm 83°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you'll be comfortable in a shorty, but you won't be doing much surfing.

We get a bit of a tease on Monday the 20th of July. The swell pushes up to 4ft from the SSW with a super long period of 17 seconds – that's a proper groundswell with some serious energy behind it (1359). But the wind is still a cross-onshore, so it's only marginal at best. The wave energy is moderate, but it's a messy offering.

The real standout, the only one that's got me talking, is shaping up for Thursday the 30th of July. Early morning you'll see a 4ft SSW swell with a very long period of 19 seconds. The combined energy is strong at 2223. That's a lot of power for a point break, and it's coming from the optimum SW direction. The wind is a cross-onshore from the WNW, so it won't be glassy, but it's manageable. The swell is still under 5ft, so it's not too big for the intermediate crew. Come Friday the 31st, the swell jumps to 8ft, also from the SSW with a 19-second period. That's a lot of water. The energy is very strong (4288), and for a point break like North Jetty, that long period groundswell will wrap in nicely. But at 8ft, this is strictly for the experts. The wind is still cross-onshore, so it's powerful but not pristine. The crowds here can be a problem sometimes, so keep that in mind.

The rest of the run into the first week of August doesn't look like it's going to clean up. The swell holds but the wind stays cross-onshore, so it's more of the same – messy, powerful, but not the kinda day you write home about.

So, if you're looking for the best of a tricky bunch, mark your calendar for Thursday the 30th of July and Friday the 31st for the biggest, most powerful swell. It's not perfect, but it's the only game in town.

Rusty.

Read more